Richie Dwyer

In a Creative Mood

Cailroe Records; 2002

CountyCork
man Finbarr Dwyer was a highly regarded 1960s/1970s Paddy “Nenagh” O'Brien
B/C-style box player. He released several albums on Belfast's Outlet label
(some of which shared tracks). One album is called Ireland's Champion
Accordionist, but he is not listed as an All-Ireland winner by Comhaltas
Ceoltóirí Éireann. Nevertheless, he is regarded as very influential player
because of those recordings[1].
He also composed some exceptional reels including Berehaven. In many
ways his was a classic style of box playing.

Now his brother Richie, whom I understand has spent many
years in America (mainly in New York) has released a CD, recorded in Cork in
October 2002. All the tunes are self-composed, including some of which have
passed into the tradition. The Dwyers have named a lot of their tunes after
places around their home territory of the Beara Peninsula in southwest Ireland
e.g. Bere Island Lasses, Black Rose of
Beara, Cailroe Ramblers, Return to Cailroe (an answer to Finbarr’s
well-known Farewell to Cailroe?). The
album’s sixteen tracks consist entirely of jigs and reels and it is interesting
that these boys play the way they do and play the stuff they do when you
consider that they are from the middle of slide/polka country. Richie plays a good
B/C style himself, in a wee bit strange, slightly jerky fashion. According to
the liner notes he also plays fiddle, whistle and guitar. He is ably
accompanied on this album by Michael O’Rourke on piano. The album is certainly
worth a listen.

The only contact given is an incomplete e-mail address. A
web search for Cailroe Records found nothing so it looks like a self-produced
job and may not be generally available. I received the review copy from a
friend who bought it at a Fleadh. Nevertheless accordion enthusiasts generally
and especially fans of the other Dwyer, may want to seek this one out.